Œuvres » Par titre » A » Aerial (9:30 / 1979)

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Aerial is characterized by an interplay between the solo instrument and the taped sounds in terms of complementary and contrasting sound colours. It attempts a close blending of the horn with the tape, not only in terms of timbre, but also with frequent pitch references, similar rhythms and quadraphonic spatial amplification. The horn is not intended to be heard as a ’solo’ voice, but rather as an integral element of a complete environment, sometimes leading, sometimes following, and in the final section, gliding effortlessly on its currents as suggested by the title. The piece is closely related to part II of the composer’s Love Songs for voice and tape, and evokes the sense of landscape, mountains, clouds, and lakes as related to the love imagery found in that piece. The work is also inspired by a comment of John Cage that “in landscape there are no inherent contradictions.”